6th June- D-Day visit to Normandy American Cemetary for the memorial service

04.30!!! Bloody hell what again. Anyway we rushed around for showers and a light breakfast before meeting the others in the car park for a drive in Gilles car to Caen. The party consisted of Jen and me, Gilles and Marie who work on the site and Gerhard a nice german chap who lives near Cologne.
We arrived at the centralised parking at around 06.30 where you go to pick up the coach to be taken to Colleville sur mer together with a police escort as many of the roads were closed for the day. We then had to go through a small security check by showing the letters of invitation and also passports before joining a queue for the coach. We left Caen around 07.45 and with blue flashing lights from the police outriders we eventually joined the traffic jam near the Cemetery. Finally we got to the car park and the place was really humming with so many people waiting holding their invitations etc. Here we lost Gerhard after he went to the Loo and we gave up looking but then he turned up the other side of the body and electronic search before entering the cemetery. If you have never been here its really worth a visit being placed next to one of the landing beaches and with about 10000 graves.
We were able to find seats in the shade of a tree, as against sitting in the direct hot son for an hour and a half however this means we could not see the stage directly but on a large screen with a loudspeaker nearby and so the photos of the stage were taken using their large screen, not the best reproduction but the best we could do under the circamstances

This photo says it all

The service started a little later than planned, but hey this is France, and it was most moving with both Francois Hollande and Barack Obama both making excellent speeches except the English translation used on the big screens got screwed up ans stopped whilst Hollande continued only then for it to wizz through and missing a considerable chunk, but hey as mentioned this is France.
Following the service we had to wait for the coaches to take us back to Caen when we informed that would not start until at least 14.00, what!!! and why?? as it now 12.45, did they not expect that people would want to go back to Caen immediately or shortly after. So along with many others we waited in the Car park and at 13.30 one coach turned up with the driver on the phone having an argument with somebody it looked like, and several policeman asking him to move or stop, depending which policeman you looked at so Gilles wandered over and started chatting to the driver only to find the driver had just been told he was going to Caen and not where he was planned to go and so Gilles waived us over and we were on the first coach back to Caen, brilliant.
Arriving back in Caen we collected the car only to find with so many roads closed that we could not find a way out of town and all the policement we stopped and asked did not know either as they been brought in from all over the country and so we spoke to police from Clermont Ferrand, Bordeaux and other places but finally we found one who came from Honfleur and he thought he knew how we could leave for Liseaux without going on the motorway and he was right. We dropped off Marie at her home which is a large farm on the outskirts of Moyaux and had tea with her mum before heading back to site.
We were both dead tired and went to the creperie on site and Gilles and Ingrid and Gerhard and finally William who also works on the site joined us for a drink. .
And so we had a really memorable
day.
 

Thursday 5th June- Weather improved and so awning up

The weather was much better this morning and so we put up the awning and really got organised during the morning following by a late lunch and then some shopping in the afternoon.
We learnt that the arrangements had been made for us to attend the memorial ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville sur mer tomorrow and something about a very early morning?.
We met up with some of the campers whilst our neighbours with three not so noisy kids broke all the rules by putting up a washing line with loads of washing, not nice.
BBQ tonight with cumberland sausage and some really excellent rib eye steaks from Costco and washed down with a very nice bottle of Medoc of which we only planned to have two small glasses each but it was so good we broke the rules. Oh well if you cant break the rules at our age then when can you do it.
We watched a couple programmes on TV and were able to to watch the end of a drama series we had been watching for the past couple of weeks and we wanted to see the ending and as I have not come to grips with the recording by our new free to air piece of equipment. So we had a later night than we had planned but most enjoyable.
Oh boy a  really early morning again coming up.

Wednesday 4th June- Rain and sun

The overnight rain was severe and much stronger than expected and lasted until late morning and so putting up the awning was not an option.
So we went shoping to the fish shop in Courmeilles and something for lunch and came back and enjoyed not having to do anything and then for lunch followed by a couple of hours of zizzing, very necessary after a number of hectic days. Suddenly the sun came out and the sky cleared but the wind came up and so to strong to put up and awning. So to fill in the time Noel tried to come to grips with the caravan electronic control panel which handles heating of all types, the straight on/off to the advanced planning for the next ten years to come on and off at a set time then change at nights to a different temperature. Only time will tell if its right as last night we both felt a little to warm.
Prior to coming away, in a mad splash Noel purchased a satellite system to take with us on the caravan, not to watch the F1 motor racing or even the world cup but just to watch the weather forecast!!I doubt it.
We have watched people for years setting up systems for hours on end and even the german nuclear security guy who is here again this year said yesterday when he chatted it took him four days to get a signal. So Noel had purchased a system for Sat twits and lo and behold after a certain amount of trepidation we started to set it up, Jennifer set an alarm for after one hour not to do it anymore but b.... hell in ten minutes we had a signal and watching antique show, or whatever its called. amazing.
Dinner tonight was fast fried white fish who name escapes us with rice and petis pois and a glass or two of Chardonnay, most enjoyable particularly as all the clouds have gone and the wind disappeared which augers well for the rest of the week. Looking forward to the 6th D-Day celebrations, details to follow.
And so to bed... 

Tuesday 3rd June- Oh how we both hate early morning.

O4.15, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz –oh shut up…it’s time to get up love. You make the tea whilst I shave and then go and start getting the caravan ready for departure. Take off locks, engage rollers and connect up to car and at 05.05 we are ready to leave for Portsmouth, perhaps a little earlier than we thought we would make it.
We arrived at Portsmouth Car Ferry terminal just about 0615 and already there was a queue for the  check in desks and including a large amount of second world military vehicles and people, mostly men, dressed in second world war uniforms, it felt quite strange really. It was pouring with rain as we inched towards the check in desk and the American vehicle in front of us packed up and we really could not go forward or back. Just what you need when you’re half a sleep. So Jennifer walked to the check in desk and did her bit and I thought that perhaps we might get by if we are really careful which we did with about an inch to spare each side of the van. So we made it to the next queue. It turned out why there was a large line of vehicles not moving as there was a big booking discrepancy for about 50 ex WW2 vehicles.
We got on board about 0800 for a 0815 departure and of course we left about 30 minutes late so not to bad really. Even though perhaps we boarded after the cars I had forgotten that this ferry puts all the cars in an upper area and that caravans and trucks etc are on the lowest deck which means we are one of the first to get off when we arrive.
We had tried to book reserved seating but it was a full ferry with the many army uniforms laying around and sleeping all over the place. We had therefore booked a cabin and hit the sack for about 3.5 hour’s before surfacing in time for a light sandwich lunch before arrival.
We departed Caen ferry terminal around 15.30 and took the quiet roads to the caravan site in Courmeilles and upon arrival we met a group of caravanners that we have met last year and so it was like being at a second home. We had a reserved site and it looked fine but we did not want to move around too much and so got set up and so by 18.00 the first cup of tea sitting outside in the warm sunny weather.
We had arranged dinner in the Chateau and there were about ten dinners only which is about as much you can seat there and also for Ingrid (the site owner) to cook for. A nice starter of avocado and prawns with salad, followed by Lamb with garlic and fresh veggies, cheese and then desert which Jen could manage partly, take those strawberries back for tomorrow’s breakfast. A very nice dinner and now back the van around 10.30 pm with a slight mist or rain in the air but we were both dead tired.

Off to France tomorrow

Well after almost five weeks at home sorting out any number of problems from leaking chimney and glass roof and the fish feeder had packed up and the roof of the BBQ near to collapse so its time to get away for a well earned Holiday.
We shall be in Normandy for a while and have been lucky to have been invited by the local Mayor via our friendly camps site owner to attend one the formal events of the 70th year anniversary of D-Day. We are not sure what this will entail but we look forward.
So watch this space for regular updates.

Saturday 26th April 2014- Packing and leaving

We spent a short while getting everything packed up and left the Hotel late morning to go to pick up the bus to Narita which left at 11.40 and arrived about an hour and 20 minutes later. The shuttle bus to the Hilton was no due for another half an hour as it’s the quiet time of day so we sat and enjoyed an iced coffee whilst sitting in the sun watching the various tour groups arrive and board buses

We had planned to go swimming in the pool in the afternoon but we both felt a rest would do us better which we subsequently enjoyed before enjoying the buffet dinner in the Hotel.

Well that’s it pretty much for this BLOG, We have had a really great time on this long trip of four months, perhaps too long, and are very much looking forward to getting home tomorrow and see the family.

We have enjoyed Japan immensely and have been able to see it in all its glory and also the areas which are not so good but we both enjoy the culture that is al around you. From the kimono dressed ladies on the train and bus, to the young who wear almost anything to elder folk wearing formal Japanese suits. The Shrines and Palaces are fascinating and there is high respect for the Emperor. The streets are very safe and always clean, no rubbish here, and the driving standards are high whilst cars are always clean. The train system copes with huge amounts of people in a short amount of time whilst at ten to eleven PM the trains are at their most crowded.

Tomorrow we check out and take the shuttle bus to the terminal and board our Virgin flight back to London and with a dinner date with our close family.

Next holiday is France at end of May so see you then

Friday 25th April- A very nice evening with friends

The morning was spent catching up on some last minute shopping and so we took the bus to Shinjuku Station and went and purchased our tickets for the Limo bus to Narita on Saturday late morning. It is the start of what Japanese call ‘Golden Week’ staring next week and many people leave town and so we wanted to ensure we were not hanging around waiting for a bus. So 8400 yen later we have our bus tickets and then walked back to our Hotel about a mile and half away stopping in various shops to pick up some last minute presents.

The afternoon was spend getting organised and then at around 5pm we left to go to a Japanese Restaurant which is situated in the ground of Tokyo Tower. This a beautiful building called Tokyo Shiba Tofuya-Ukai with lots of little paths and fountains and ponds and many shrubs and trees, what a lovely garden it was.

We had dinner with one of Noels ex colleagues and his wife and had a lovely evening reminiscing and also talking about their children who had moved around Asia quite a bit over the last fifteen years and also our life in retirement. A truly nice evening.

We caught the crowded Metro (underground) back to Shinjuku but unfortunately missed the last bus and so we took a taxi back to the Hotel.

Thursday 24th April 2014- Back to Tokyo

Breakfast as usual and all the staff came to say goodbye and have a chat, lovely really, and then we loaded up the car and headed South on the Expressways but knowing that we should not arrive to early at the Hotel as earliest check in is 14.00 hrs. and so we stopped a couple of a times for a coffee’s and the a snack and then continued in to Tokyo with its heightened Police presents as MR Obama is in town. When American presidents hit Tokyo they tend to close the Shuto Expressway which is the only way to get around Tokyo, it’s a road ion stilts which is like a spider’s web over this large town and avoids the hundreds of thousands of traffic lights. There are no roundabouts in Japan only traffic lights.

Following the Satnav it took us perfectly to the Hotel where we could check in and also arrange for our left luggage (Camping Equipment) to go to Narita by Yamato Baggage Service and await our collection at near the check in desk, brilliant service.

We then took the car back to Nissan and Shinjuku station again following the Satnav it it worked perfectly and breathed a huge sigh of relief that we gave it back in good order. The underground system in tokyo is exclelnt but can be very confusing for the first time user including locals.

You work it out!

We averaged around 62 mpg over our travels which we think is quite good.

From there we cashed the remains of our Travellers Cheques and then headed over to Roppongi for our planned treat at Tony Roma’s Rib and Steak joint and had an excellent if not filling meal.

Tokyo fashions are quite different with girls wearing short skirts or short shorts and/or fluffy short dresses whilst the men either wear their ‘Salaryman’ regulation suit whilst have taken up the winkle picker shoes again.

We then returned to the Hotel via the underground and then the local bus with Noel blogging and arranging a taxi for our return next Sunday whilst Jennifer catching up the washing.

Tomorrow is our last full day in Tokyo and we have odd jobs to do and then go to dinner with an ex business colleague of Noel’s.

We are now both looking forward to seeing the family and catching up with friends

Wednesday 23rd April 2014- Nikko and Lake Chuzenji

A light breakfast and the weather had improved somewhat since the previous day and Jennifer was feeling so much better, thank heavens. My complaints about the attempted charging us for breakfast when it was included in the rate seems to have some effect as suddenly everybody came to offer assistance and chat with their best English

On leaving our local town we stopped to have the hire car washed which took a little explaining but anyway was accomplished and so much cleaner all for Yen 1000 or £ 5.50, can’t get that in UK.

We took all the slow non motorway roads to Nikko and it is not an attractive town in anyway in fact it looks a little run down with many shops and factories closed which surprises us a little. We spotted lots of Gaijin (Foreigners) walking the streets and most walking in the direction of the Shrines and also the big Palace where the Emperor stayed during the Second World War. We decided we have seen enough shrines and Palaces during the past few weeks and carried on up the hill to Lake Chusenji which we last visited 28 years ago when living in Japan and had an appalling drive to get there as it was a public holiday. To get up to the lake which is in an extinct Volcano takes over 26 S bends up and a further 28 coming down and so you are continually turning left and right.

There were very few people around the lake and many of the shops were closed and also most of the Hotels which only open up during the main tourist season which probably starts in the next week. We stopped in the Old and New Parts of Nikko to find a restaurant but failed and then came across a chain called Coco’s where we enjoyed some Italian Pasta set mean including soup and desert all for £ 8.00 each, wow we know how to live.

Then back to the Hotel where we stripped of and went in the pool for about an hour and a half including the Hot Tub. There was also an Onsen but you really need to be with someone as they are not mixed and so both of us would have been by ourselves sitting in Hot water so a joint Hot tub was the next best thing.

Following a good lunch we then had a glass of wine and bread and cheese for a early evening snack and then spent the rest of the evening listening to our Ipods and Noel to Radio 2.

Tuesday 22nd April- A little cloudy here

The Hotel is situated by the gorge and it’s a nice view from the room. It comes equipped with the usual electronic toilet with dials and switches to heat the seat or give you a quick burst of water up the backside when you least expect it, but hey this is Japan.

We had breakfast in the Hotel this morning, perhaps the best free breakfast we have had except they have charged me for it and so a little effort is required to resolve the problem via the booking agents but hey this is Japan!

We left the Hotel and headed North at around 10.00 and drove up the smaller roads and avoided the expressway and went through quite a few towns which looked like they were dead as very few people seen and many of the buildings in disrepair which surprised us a little. Prior to leaving the local area we had been to the local pharmacy for pills and had a funny experience trying to explain Jennifer’s stomach problem, the little old lady serving us was rubbing her tummy and then trying to indicate many sorts of stomach problems but eventually we got the stuff we have tried before. We also visited the local supermarket and purchased some ham to go in the croissants we still have from Costco.

The hydroelectric scheme up in this area is not only important for the local community but also supplies water. It is still early up in this area and most of the trees are still greyish from the winter and only a few cherry trees are out.

We stopped at a wayside parking area for a coffee and found a local who had visited London and wanted to practise his English but he was also very useful in giving us some English maps which we had not seen elsewhere. Later for lunch we pulled up at the side of the lake and enjoyed the view, shame it’s rather grey today.

Our journey back to the Hotel was easy and no traffic really and we stopped back in the supermarket for some evening food of salad and chicken in a sweet chili sauce and Noel tested to Chablis whilst Jennifer tested the bottled water.

We watched a rather amazing TV show which is clearly based on England’s got talent and some of the acts were quite outrageous and some rather stupid but then the rest of the evening was spent in the Hotel lounge using the wifi connection for blogging and emails etc.

Monday 21st April 2014- Gosh its raining

The weather has changed and it rained overnight whilst Jennifer was still suffering from a stomach bug and so we had a slow start. We left Maebashi around 10.15 and took the expressway East and then North up to Nikko where it was also raining.

The journey up would have been nice as you could partly see the mountains and we also passed quite a lot of very old cherry trees which were flowering but were also losing their petals due to the rain. The Satnav took us very close to the Hotel, in fact we coiuld see it and its quite large but then it said turn left and we could not see a tradition road turning left and so continued on. The satnav then told us to drive North and East and then South back to where we were and asked us to turn right and again we could not see a traditional turning but then we saw a small road just a little bit wider than the car and 40 yards down the road a level crossing and this was it. Anyway we got there far too early for a 1500 check in and so we had a challenging few minutes as none of the reception staff could speak English but they just kept pointing to the 15.00 on the check in counter and so we took the hint and took off to find somewhere to park until the doors opened. We finished of the Sushi from Costco and also both enjoyed another apple turnover, boy they are good.

The rain was coming down quite hard and we also visited a very large supermarket for some milk but also to look at what else they sold for our next couple of days. We arrived back at the Hotel and they were all sweetens and smiles and a lady at the front door to offer help so clearly if you arrive outside of the chosen times you’re in trouble.

The room is overlooking a fast running stream in a valley with trees coming down the hillside and in the sun it would be quite beautiful but in the rain and mist, its not the best, however on the other side of the Hotel you would get a nice view of the railway, road houses and some hills in the mist.

After a couple of hours R & R we walked around the Hotel to check out the swimming pool etc. and then back to the room for cheese and bread and some Malbec for our tea or dinner. Jennifer’s stomach is not up to anything else at the moment and so we both hope overnight will cure her problem.

Its due to stop raining overnight and Wednesday is forecast to be fine along with the rest of the week.

Sunday 20th April 2014- En route to Nikko

We left Matsumoto and decided to take the small roads rather than the expressways as this makes it a more enjoyable journey for both of us. Perhaps it me be a little difficult map reading but Jennifer seems to have mastered the Japanese maps and is able to recognise the Hiragana signs. We went through several tunnels and then started going downhill as there was a sign that we were at 1080 metres and then the road went down and more down and the air temperature rose from 4C to 12c and eventually after a couple of coffee and loo stops we found a place to stop and eat our sandwiches overlooking a gorge.

After lunch we put on the Satnav to help guide us to Costco in Maebashi and it took longer to get there as the roads were really very busy indeed compared to where we have been but then again we are only about 80 miles from central Tokyo.

We arrived at Costco and the car park was absolutely solid with cars and so we followed a guy with a full shopping trolley back to his car and waited for him to load up and leave and then we parked. The place inside was like Regent Street on the last Saturday before Christmas and it was almost impossible to move in the aisles and the locals were lining up by the tens to taste the samples being offered as you walked around. We purchased some sushi and salad for tonight and some croissants for the next few days to make a change from muesli and banana and also a couple of bottle of wine. The Malbec here was even cheaper than last time we bought it at a ridiculously low price. As we stood by the cheese counter a Japanese lady asked our opinion of a particular cheese we had also purchased and then she bought some as well.

Back to the car and cars were fighting four our parking space as we left and then on in to Maebashi where we found the Hotel and checked in and decided to have quiet time tonight and enjoy our sushi and salad and glass of Malbec and perhaps finish of with an apple turnover, such is the hard life of travelling.

Tomorrow we head of to Nikko which we hope the weather will nice as at the moment we have had it a little overcast, not cold or really warm but it is due to change we understand.

Saturday 19th April 2014- Matsumoto is a great place to visit.

WE LIKE THIS PLACE…

But first, the Hotel in which we are staying is an older Hotel but has big rooms and a usable bathroom. The Hotel in Toyama had no room to even leave your toothbrush and toothpaste in let alone a bathroom bag kit.

Anyway, after our usual Muesli and banana breakfast and of course the usual cuppa, we walked down to the oldest castle in Japan and purchased our entry tickets and we were early which was very handy. The Castle Keep has extremely steep and short stairs and so Jennifer did the walk alone and entered the building within a minute or so of us arriving. Two minutes later hundreds of Japanese kids and tour groups descended on the place and there was a queue of about hundred yards long which has developed in minutes.
All the Cherry trees are out at the moment and it makes this little town look really nice. We have been lucky with the Cherry trees as we were just in time for Tokyo, on time for all the other places we have visited so how about that for luck.

We then walked down to the middle of town and on to the train station where we discovered you get a bus ticket for the day on three routes around town and so we did some of the routes. For lunch we visited the same place as we went yesterday, but somehow the service was rubbish and they messed up our and our neighbour’s food orders, most unusual.

We did a little more walking and then went back to the Hotel around 16.00 to do some planning about our route tomorrow and have a little rest before heading out in the dark for a photo shoot. In the Hotel there is a little café where tried their apple cake and a coffee before venturing out back to the castle and around the town to take some night photos. Some came out well and others did not, but that’s the name of the game.

Then back to the Hotel around 20.15 to load the photos and do this Blog. Tomorrow we leave en-route to Nikko and will stay overnight in a place called Maebashi where the only claim to fame is seen to be a large Costco store where we shall make a few purchases. We plan to stay on the regular roads and ignore the expressways as its much more interesting.